"She is from the Victorian era and a mysterious one," Coleman says in a BBC America press release, talking about Clara. "Very down to earth, but feisty and curious, too, with numerous jobs."

Clara first sees the Doctor while working as a barmaid in the Rose and Crown pub. She also works as a governess for two children at Darkover House, where something dark is indeed lurking in the garden.

"[Clara] isn't intimidated by the Doctor; instead she finds him amazing and ridiculous," Coleman says. "But she is on her own mission and lives by her own means, she is very resourceful."

We'll learn much more about Clara, that kiss and the snowman when "Doctor Who: The Snowmen" airs at 8 p.m. CT Dec. 25 on BBC America.

Here's the network's blurb about the special:

This year's Doctor Who Christmas special, The Snowmen, introduces a new companion, a new look for the Doctor, plus a new monster in this movie-scale episode. Starring Matt Smith as the Doctor and introducing Jenna-Louise Coleman as new companion Clara, The Snowmen follows their adventures as they embark on a mission to save Christmas from the villainous Doctor Simeon (Richard E Grant, The Iron Lady, Dracula) and his army of icy snowmen.

Doctor Who will do battle with a seasonal foe in "The Snowmen" on Christmas night, BBC America said on Friday as it revealed the title of this year's "Doctor Who" holiday special. In "The Snowmen," the Doctor (Matt Smith) and his new companion named Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) fight to save...

They're getting closer and closer ... the Snowmen, that is. BBC America late Monday released an image of the monsters Doctor Who will face in the 2012 Christmas special, called, not too coincidentally, "The Snowmen."

The University of Illinois' rescinded job offer to a professor and a controversy over a faculty blog at Chicago State University helped land the two schools on a 2014 "worst of" list for student and faculty free speech rights.

Rep. Aaron Schock billed taxpayers at least three times for a total of more than $14,000 in private air travel last fall, including for a trip to a Chicago Bears football game, The Associated Press has learned.